Protective cover for an outdoor swimming pool



Jan. 27, 1959 y C, E G, REEVES 2,870,455

PROTECTIVE COVER FOR AN OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOL Filed Feb. 6, 1957 .lNvENToR CMQ/wss GEA/#7M P55 VES Charles E. Graham Reeves, SummitN.

nite f States Patent Ait PRTEC'HVE COVER FOR AN OUTDOOR SWIMMING POGL J., assignor to Reeves Brothers, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New ,York

Application February 6, 195,7, Serial N0.'638,'608 Claims. (Cl. 4172) The present invention relates to a protectivexcover for an outdoor swimming pool.

The cleaning of leaves and other'refuse. from an outdoor swimming pool involves considerable labor vand expense and is particularly troublesome `when the' pool is left Aunattended for a period of several days or more. In many instances, leaves and other refuse may become watersoaked and sink to the bottom ofthe pool. Under such conditions, the refuse is apt to contaminate,Y or discolor the water in the ypool and to stain thesidescf the pool. ln order to correct such conditions, itis often necessary to remove all of the water from the pool and then to scrub the bottom and sides of the pool.

The present invention is directed to overcoming these difliculties. An object of the present invention is to prevent leaves and other refuse fromxcoming in contact with the Water in an outdoor swimming pool to Ithe extent that the water will hecomecontaminated or discolored. Another object of the inventionis to provide avv protective cover for an outdoor swimming `pool -which is -buoyant and which does not require fastening to hold'lthe--cover in place. A cover made in accordance with the present invention can be put in place or removed from the pool without difculty by one person. A further object of the invention is to provide a protective cover for a swimming pool which does not interfere with the normal circulation of air with respect to the water in the pool.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent and best understood from the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a swimming pool cover embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view in vertical section of a swimming pool with a cover embodying the invention;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan View of a portion of the swimming pool shown in Fig. l on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of a modified form of the swimming pool cover shown in Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in vertical section of a portion of the swimming pool cover shown in Fig. l on an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in vertical section corresponding to Fig. 5, but illustrating a modified construction.

ln carrying out the present invention, a buoyant sheet 10 of an open-mesh fabric made from a non-water absorbing plastic material, such as polyethylene, having a specific gravity less than that of water, is placed on the surface of the water in the pool. The sheet made from such a fabric floats on the surface of the pool and supports refuse, such as leaves or the like, on it, which may fall out of contact with the water in the pool. Such refuse can readily be removed and contamination or discoloration of the water in the pool is prevented.

Free circulation of air and sunlight in contact with the surface of the water in the pool is permitted by the open-mesh construction of the fabric so that the water in'the pool does-.not become `stale -or foulfrom-being covered.

As shown n the drawing, there is a sheet 10 of the open-mesh fabric which conforms in size and shape t0 the surface area of the water 11 in a swimming pool 12. The sheet 10 maybe formed -by sewing 'several widths of the fabric together with thread of waterresistant material, such as an acrylic'fibcr or polyethylene.

The open-mesh fabric is made from filaments or yarns formed from a plastic material having a specific vgravity less than the specific gravity of water and which is ynonwater absorbing or hygrophobic to a high degree. Such a fabric will be buoyantand will float von the surface of the water in the pool. Suitable materials possessing these characteristics may be designated generally as the group comprising the polyolefines of which polypropylene and polyethylene are specific examples.

Filaments or yarns made from polyethylene are especially suitable for use in a fabric for carrying out the present invention. Filaments or polyethylenel may be produced having a specific gravity ranging from .92 to .96 and with a water absorption of less than .01%' by weight at ambient temperatures. VA fabric made from such filaments is resistant to salt `water and to attack by micro-organisms, particularly those creating mildewand rot. :In addition, :polyethylene fabrics when suitably processed are suflicientlyvweather resistant and remain pliable under a wide range of temperature conditions.

Another polyolefine whichihas suitable characteristics is polypropylene from which filaments may be produced having a specific gravity in the range of from '.87 to .92.

Asshown in Fig. 3, the filaments 13 may be Woven in arleno weave, as shown in Fig. 3, to form a fabric having open meshes i4 spaced throughout the area of the fabric with the strands being locked against movement relative to each other. The fabric illustrated is known as a 40 X 24 construction and the filaments 13 are about .006 in diameter with a specific gravity of .95. A`20 X 50' cover made from such a fabric will weigh less than seventeen pounds and can be easily handled by one person.

It will be understood that multifilament yarns may be used in forming the open mesh fabric. It will also be understood that monolilament or multifilament yarns of different weights may be used, although it is desirable that the construction of the open-mesh fabric be such that the cover can be readily handled by one person in placing it on the surface of the pool or removing it.

As shown in Fig. 5, the edges of the open-mesh fabric forming the sheet lil are turned over a cord i5 which may also be made of polyethylene or other suitable buoyant material and then binding the edges in place. This prevents raveling or shifting of the filaments. In addition, the turned edges and the cord, thus, form a raised lip or border 16 which extends around the edges of the sheet and prevents leaves or other refuse on the sheet from sliding into the pool as the cover is being removed from the pool.

As shown in Fig. 6, a tubular member i5' which is buoyant may be substituted in place of the cord 17. The tubular member will likewise form a raised border around the edges of the cover and its buoyancy will tend to support the edges of the cover. The tubular member may be made from a flexible plastic tubing such as polyethylene tubing.

A cover made in accordance with the foregoing requirements will float when it is placed on the surface of the water in the pool and will support refuse, such as leaves or the like, which falls into the pool. l The use of an open-mesh construction for the fabric has several important purposes. First, it overcomes any tendency for wind to blow the cover from the pool or to interfere with handling of the cover. it also prevents rain from collecting on the cover and tending to sink the cover. Further, it permits the normal circulation of air in contact with the surface of the water in the pool and prevents the water from becoming stale or foul.

The size of the openings will depend upon the size of the particles of refuse it is desired to prevent entering the water in the pool. However, the openings or mesh in the fabric are large enough to permit water to pass through the fabric readily.

The cover and any refuse collected thereon may be removed from the pool by simply sliding the cover over one edge of the pool. Any refuse which has been collected on the surface of the cover will be carried out of the pool with the cover and will be prevented from slipping off of the cover by the raised border at the edges of the cover.

Another type of open-mesh woven fabric known as a broken twill 2/ 2 weave with 130 x 45 threads per inch, which is suitable for use in a cover made in accordance with the invention, is shown in Fig. 4. The filaments 13' from which this fabric is woven, are also polyethylene filaments of about .006 in diameter and there are openings lli' through which air and water can pass. It will also be understood that the various .other types openmesh fabrics made from non-water absorbing plastic materials having a specific gravity less than the specific gravity of water may be utilized in carrying out the present invention. Such fabrics need not be woven, but may be knitted or netted fabrics or a non-woven fabric where a permanent water-resistant bond between the filaments is formed where they cross.

It will be understood that various modifications and changes may be made in the above-described manner in which the invention is carried out and in the embodiments of the protective cover shown and described herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A protective cover for an outdoor swimming pool which comprises a sheet of open-mesh fabric conforming in size and shape to the surface area of a body of water in a swimming pool, said open-mesh fabric being formed from filaments of a non-water absorbing polyolefine having a specific gravity less than the specific gravity of water and a buoyant member extending around said sheet at the edges thereof and being secured thereto, said member forming a ridge extending above the surface of the sheet.

2. A protective cover for an outdoor swimming pool as defined in claim 1 wherein the polyolene from which the filaments of the fabric are formed is selected from the group including polyethylene and polypropylene.

3. A protective cover for an outdoor swimming pool as defined in claim 1 wherein the polyolefine from which the filaments of the open-mesh fabric are made is polyethylene.

4. A protective cover for an outdoor swimming pool as defined in claim 1 wherein the polyolefine from which the filaments of the open-mesh fabric are made is polyethylene and the buoyant member is a cord made from polyethylene.

5. A protective cover for an outdoor swimming pool as defined in claim 1 wherein the polyolefine from which the filaments of the open-mesh fabric are made is polypropylene.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,231,869 Andrews Feb. 18, 1941 2,549,475 Jardim Apr. 17, 1951 2,557,079 Cutri June 19, 1951 2,580,555 Kroeger Ian. 1, 1952 2,590,586 Thompson et al Mar. 25, 1952 2,754,899 Karobonik et al. July 17, 1956 

